-‘Women’s liberation’ as distinct from ‘equality with men’
-Regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century.
Purpose behind the Movement
-It seems as though that the Women’s Liberation Movement is powered by all of the social changes that occurred decades before.
-Women were offered a variety of jobs and opportunities during WWII. But once the war ended, those in power tried to restore society to its original being.
-Women did not want to be “apron housewives,” they wanted to be independent and to be able to provide for their family.
Occupation and Background
-Germaine Greer is an Australian-born writer, academic, journalist, and scholar of early English literature.
-Attended a private convent school, Star of the Sea College, and won a teaching scholarship in 1956
-Attended the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney
-Became involved with the Sydney Push social milieu and the anarchist Sydney Libertarians
-Traveled to England in 1964, and gained her PhD from Cambridge University in 1967
-Her best-selling novel is titled The Female Eunuch (1970)
-The Female Eunuch (1970) – argued that women do not know how much men hate them, and how they are taught to hate themselves. The publication of the book coincided with the emergence of a second-wave of the women's movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Arguments
-Greer argues that as women grow up, they embrace the stereotypical version of adult femininity produced by men, and they develop a sense of shame about their own bodies. They also lose any natural and political autonomy. The result is that women are left powerless, isolated, and suffering a diminished sexuality and general unhappiness. (skwirk 2)
Germaine Greer
Greer’s Stance
-‘Women’s liberation’ as distinct from ‘equality with men’
-Regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century.
Purpose behind the Movement
-It seems as though that the Women’s Liberation Movement is powered by all of the social changes that occurred decades before.
-Women were offered a variety of jobs and opportunities during WWII. But once the war ended, those in power tried to restore society to its original being.
-Women did not want to be “apron housewives,” they wanted to be independent and to be able to provide for their family.
Occupation and Background
-Germaine Greer is an Australian-born writer, academic, journalist, and scholar of early English literature.
-Attended a private convent school, Star of the Sea College, and won a teaching scholarship in 1956
-Attended the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney
-Became involved with the Sydney Push social milieu and the anarchist Sydney Libertarians
-Traveled to England in 1964, and gained her PhD from Cambridge University in 1967
-Her best-selling novel is titled The Female Eunuch (1970)
-The Female Eunuch (1970) – argued that women do not know how much men hate them, and how they are taught to hate themselves. The publication of the book coincided with the emergence of a second-wave of the women's movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Arguments
-Greer argues that as women grow up, they embrace the stereotypical version of adult femininity produced by men, and they develop a sense of shame about their own bodies. They also lose any natural and political autonomy. The result is that women are left powerless, isolated, and suffering a diminished sexuality and general unhappiness. (skwirk 2)
Friends
-Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan
Foes
-Anthony Astrachan
Works Cited
"Germaine Greer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer#The_Female_Eunuch>.
"Germaine Greer: women's liberation, People and power, Power, people and politics in the post-war period, History Year 9, NSW | Online Education Home Schooling Skwirk Australia." Skwirk. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. <http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-117_t-319_c-1080/germaine-greer-women-s-liberation/nsw/germaine-greer-women-s-liberation/power-people-and-politics-in-the-post-war-period/people-and-power>.
Gordon, George. "glbtq >> social sciences >> Women's Liberation Movement." glbtq: the world's largest encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. <http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/womens_liberation_movement.html>.